BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Eventin//Event Calendar//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:facbbbe29bfa8917699ec272d0246e51@icaap.coop
SUMMARY:From Panama to Lumbini: A World Summit Where Cooperatives Take the 
 Case for Peace to the Birthplace of the Buddha
DESCRIPTION:Following the Panama Declaration\, the cooperative movement is 
 taking its call for a peace economy to Lumbini\, Nepal\, the birthplace of 
 Lord Buddha. The World Summit for Peace Through Cooperatives\, under the th
 eme "Cooperatives for a Peaceful World\," will be held from 10 to 12 Decemb
 er 2026 at the Lumbini International Buddhist Meditation Center\, bringing 
 together cooperative leaders\, policymakers\, development partners and peac
 e advocates from around the world.\n \nThe summit is organized by the Natio
 nal Cooperative Federation of Nepal (NCF)\, the apex body of Nepal's cooper
 ative movement\, which provides national leadership to more than 32\,000 co
 operatives\, in partnership with ICA and ICA-AP\, government bodies\, natio
 nal federations and development and peace institutions. Around 650 delegate
 s are expected\, including 150 from outside Nepal.\n \nThe summit builds on
  a conviction voiced by ICA President Dr. Ariel Guarco\, who has pointed ou
 t that more than 120 armed conflicts continue worldwide while military spen
 ding has risen for eleven consecutive years to USD 2.89 trillion\, even as 
 over 830 million people live on less than USD 2.15 a day. Cooperatives\, th
 e organizers note\, act as "schools of peace\," building dialogue\, transpa
 rency and solidarity across differences\, and laying the foundations for po
 sitive peace before\, during and after crises.\n \nOver three days\, delega
 tes will explore themes including cooperatives and peacebuilding\, economic
  equality\, youth leadership and innovation\, women's empowerment\, climate
  change and sustainability\, alignment with the Sustainable Development Goa
 ls\, digital transformation and global partnerships. The programme opens wi
 th a ceremony\, keynote addresses and high-level panels\, moves to technica
 l sessions\, policy dialogues and the drafting of a summit declaration\, an
 d closes with field visits to local cooperative enterprises and a peace tou
 r of the Buddha's birthplace.\n \nThe summit will conclude with the adoptio
 n of the Lumbini Declaration for Peace through Cooperatives. Other planned 
 outcomes include a proceedings report\, policy recommendations for governme
 nts and international cooperative bodies\, a Youth Cooperation Network and 
 a Global Cooperative Peace Platform\, with annual follow-up forums to keep 
 the momentum going.\n \nThe registration fee is USD 250 per participant. Pa
 rticipants are expected to bear their own international and domestic airfar
 e and hotel costs\, while NCF will provide ground transportation\, a half-d
 ay Lumbini heritage site visit and lunch throughout the three days. For ICA
 -AP members across the region\, the summit offers a timely chance to turn t
 he Panama commitments into shared action\, and members are encouraged to re
 gister early.\n \nFor registration and enquiries\, contact ncfcoop@gmail.co
 m or ncfconference@gmail.com.\n \nTo register for the summit\, Click here.\
 n \n 
LOCATION:Lumbini International Buddhist Meditation Center\, Lumbini\, Nepal
DTSTAMP:20261106T183337Z
DTSTART:20261210T130000Z
DTEND:20261212T100000Z
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR